Associate Director, Graduate and Professional Financial Aid Compliance and Oversight

Duke University:

 

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

 

 

 

Be You.

 

Duke Financial Aid is seeking an experienced and strategic Associate Director, Graduate and Professional Financial Aid Compliance and Oversight to lead compliance oversight and continuous improvement efforts across Duke’s graduate and professional schools. In this role, you will serve as the University’s primary compliance resource for graduate and professional financial aid, helping ensure institutional practices remain compliant, consistent, and effective in a complex and evolving regulatory environment.

 

Reporting to the Director of Operations, Compliance, and Audits within Central Financial Aid, you will work collaboratively across Duke’s eight graduate and professional schools to monitor regulatory requirements, assess operational practices, identify areas of risk or opportunity, and lead compliance-focused improvements. You will have the autonomy to proactively identify gaps, develop solutions, and guide implementation—while also building strong, trusted partnerships with school-based financial aid teams.

 

This role is ideal for a highly self-directed financial aid professional who combines deep regulatory expertise with strong project management, training, and relationship-building skills. Through audits, assessments, training, and cross-school collaboration, your work will directly support Duke’s ability to deliver high-quality, compliant financial aid services to graduate and professional students.

 

Minimum Requirements

• Work requires knowledge and skills generally acquired through completion of a Bachelor's degree program.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in financial aid with demonstrated compliance and leadership expertise.
• Demonstrated experience working with Title IV regulations and compliance requirements impacting graduate and professional programs.
• Experience coordinating across multiple stakeholders, offices, or academic units.
• Ability to work independently, identify compliance risks, and lead implementation efforts.

 

Preferred Qualifications

• NASFAA Financial Aid Administrator Certification (FAAC).
• Experience supporting or overseeing graduate and professional school financial aid operations.
• Experience managing projects that span multiple schools or organizational units.
• Strong written communication skills, including development of audit findings, guidance, and training materials.

 

Other Requirements

• Ability to analyze complex regulations and translate them into practical guidance.
• Comfort providing corrective feedback and compliance direction in a collaborative manner.
• This position is expected to work closely with school-based financial aid offices and central compliance partners.

 

 

Be Bold.

 

• Provide compliance oversight and regulatory guidance for federal, state, and institutional financial aid requirements impacting Duke’s graduate and professional programs, including ongoing interpretation of Title IV regulations.
• Conduct audits, assessments, and quality assurance reviews of financial aid processes across graduate and professional schools, identifying compliance risks, inconsistencies, and operational inefficiencies.
• Develop written findings and actionable recommendations to strengthen compliance, improve d